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Advent Psalms – Friday of Week One

In Keble College in Oxford hangs William Holman Hunt’s The Light of the World’ a picture that is familiar to many, one that I had seen many times on bookmarks, prayer cards and the like. However there is nothing like walking into that side chapel and seeing it in all its full size glory. I found it quite breathtaking and it changed how I view the picture every time I see it now, that change echos in this psalm for me. It is not just the lantern he carries that shines with Christ’s face is also radiant in the picture despite the darkness that surrounds him, the darkness which surrounds even Christ.

Today I will be pondering on the radiant Light that shines from Christ even in the darkest of places.

The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?
When evildoers assail me to devour my flesh— my adversaries and foes— they shall stumble and fall.
Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war rise up against me, yet I will be confident. One thing I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after:
to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will set me high on a rock. Now my head is lifted up above my enemies all around me, and I will offer in his tent sacrifices with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make melody to the Lord
Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud, be gracious to me and answer me! ‘Come,’ my heart says, ‘seek his face!’
Your face, Lord, do I seek. .